The School Entrance Examination (SEU) is compulsory for all school-age children in Lower Saxony.

All children who will reach the age of 6 by September 30 of the year they start school are required to attend school.

The invitation to the school entry examination is issued in writing by the Child and Adolescent Health Department.

In the presence of the parents or guardians, a physical examination including a vision and hearing test as well as pre-school functions are checked.

The results of the examination are discussed with the parents/guardians and, if necessary, recommendations are made, e.g. to consult a specialist or information on support options.

The primary aim of this examination is therefore to be able to initiate the necessary support measures before the child starts school. The result of the school entry examination is a recommendation from the public health department, which is passed on to the parents/guardians and the responsible elementary school.

The school entry examination also serves to identify any medical reasons that could prevent the child from attending school successfully.

Further information:

Before starting school | Nds. Kultusministerium (niedersachsen.de) (opens in a new tab)

Children who have reached the age of six by the following September 30 are required to attend school. According to § 64 para. 1 sentence 2 of the Nds.GVBI. p.16, custodians whose children turn six between July 1 and September 30 can postpone school attendance by one year by sending a simple informal written notification to the school.

The school entry examination is compulsory for all children of compulsory school age. Attendance at the school entrance examination is also mandatory if the parents or guardians wish to postpone their child's school enrolment until the following year.

Further information can be found in the Lower Saxony School Act (NSchG) § 64 (opens in a new tab).

From mid-October, guardians of children who are due to start school will be able to conveniently book appointments for school entry examinations themselves online. With the introduction of a central, individually designed registration portal, the city of Salzgitter is simplifying the process and ensuring greater flexibility in scheduling appointments.

Access data for the registration portal will be sent to parents by post

Previously, families received the examination appointments by post and had to coordinate changes by telephone with the child and youth health department of the health authority.

With the new system, the process is now much more modern: in the invitation letter sent out by the specialist service for the school enrolment examination, families are contacted according to their children's date of birth. This letter contains a personal booking code that custodians can use in the online portal to select their preferred date within a specified period. Changes or cancelations can also be made independently. It is also possible to upload personal documents.

The aim is to make it easier for families to organize their school enrolment. The digital appointment system allows families to plan their daily routine better.
The school entry examination is required by law and checks the child's eyesight, hearing, speech development, motor skills and general health as part of a medical examination. The results provide important information as to whether a child needs support when starting school.

No internet access? Appointments can still be made by telephone

For families without internet access, appointments can still be made by telephone.

Children with increased support needs - health department contacts parents in person

Families with children who are known to the public health department and who have an increased need for support will be contacted by the public health department as usual to arrange an appointment.

We are pleased to inform you that a new digital registration portal for school entry examinations will be introduced with immediate effect.

Guardians of children who are due to start school in 2026 will be able to conveniently book appointments for school entry examinations online themselves from mid-October 2025 after receiving a written access code from the public health department to activate the corresponding portal. By introducing a central registration portal, the city of Salzgitter is simplifying the process and ensuring greater flexibility in scheduling appointments.

In the invitation letter sent out by the specialist service for the school enrolment check-up, families are contacted according to their children's date of birth. This letter contains a personal booking code that custodians can use in the online portal to select their preferred date within a specified period. Changes or cancelations can also be made independently. It is also possible to upload personal documents.

The aim is to simplify the organizational effort involved in enrolment. The digital appointment system allows you to plan your daily routine better.

For families without Internet access, appointments can still be made by telephone on 05341-839-2418.

You can help to simplify the processes on the day of the school entrance examination by providing reports or medical findings of your child in advance via upload. A corresponding QR code can be found in your invitation letter. The upload connection is secure under data protection law.

From October 2025 to June 2025, you will receive an online booking code by post from the public health department when your child is due to start school next year. Families with the option of flexibilization will also receive this code.

The code sent to them will be used to register for the regular school enrolment check-up online via the new portal.

Parents and guardians can

• register their child digitally,
• select examination dates within a specified period
• complete and send the attached voluntary questionnaires in advance using a QR code
• upload required documents (reports, medical documents)
• view all important information about the examination.

Younger children can also be enrolled at the request of their parents or guardians if their level of development indicates that they are likely to be successful in the first year of school. The decision on the enrollment of these so-called "optional children" is made by the school management of your elementary school.

It is therefore necessary for you to contact the relevant elementary school and our Child and Adolescent Health Department at the public health department yourself.

In this case too, your child will be examined at our premises and you will be given detailed advice.

The school doctor will discuss the results of the school enrolment examination with the parent or guardian present at the examination and, if necessary, give recommendations, e.g. on seeing a specialist or advice on support options.

The school doctors do not decide whether a child is enrolled in school or deferred from school attendance, they only make recommendations. The decision as to whether a child is enrolled in school is made by the head teacher of the elementary school responsible for you.

The examination will take around 60-90 minutes. For children with known support needs, we plan more time for the consultation and try to address your specific questions and concerns in particular. Here we need about 120 minutes.

If you have any questions, please contact the Child and Adolescent Health Department.

Families with children who are known to our specialist service and who have an increased need for support will be contacted by the health department as usual to arrange an appointment.

Families with children who are known to our specialist service and who have an increased need for support will be contacted by the health department as usual to arrange an appointment.

Legal guardians whose children reach the age of six in the period from July 1 to September 30 have the option of postponing the school enrolment date by one year. The legal guardians should have decided by the deadline (May 1 of each school year) whether the child's school enrolment should be postponed by one year. In this case, an informal written declaration to the responsible elementary school is sufficient.

Children of compulsory school age can be deferred from attending school for one year if, due to their level of development, it is to be expected that they will not be able to successfully participate in the first year of elementary school or a special school and regular schooling is to be expected following the year of deferral.

You may be required to attend a school kindergarten by the responsible elementary school if this facility is available in the area of the school authority. Alternatively, you can remain in your usual daycare center.

These children are also legally obliged to take part in the school entry examination.

Yes, a trusted person can accompany you and your child to the examination.

Yes, of course both persons with custody are welcome to take part in the examination.

Yes, but a written authorization from a legal guardian must be presented. Nevertheless, a discussion must be held later with the legal guardian about our recommendation. This means that one or both legal guardians must come to us for a consultation at a later date.

Further information:

Special schools (opens in a new tab) | Salzgitter

Our schools (opens in a new tab) | Nds. Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (niedersachsen.de)